Category: Kids Dentistry

A kid is usually unable to brush on their own until they can tie their own shoes. Until then, without your guidance, they wouldn’t have the dexterity to brush properly. Our team knows how hard it can be to get a child to brush regularly. Be patient, and note that you’re setting them up for good oral health for a lifetime. Is the war worth it? It surely is!

First of all, note that brushing the teeth of your child does not harm him or her, and not brushing will cause more pain in the future. Try thinking about toothbrushing the way you think of other things to do, whether a child likes it or not. Of starters, when they have to be buckled in a car seat, some kids kick and scream, or hold hands as they cross the street, but we do it anyway because it’s of their safety and wellbeing. Toothbrushing is something that needs to be done for your child’s wellbeing, without question.

Second, we know that children feel more in control of their situation when given a choice, and are more likely to do what they are asked to do. You can say, for example, “Mom’s going to help you brush, would you like me to brush your top teeth or bottom teeth first?” or you can say, “It’s time to brush your teeth, would you like to brush in your bathroom or mine?”

Allow your child to choose the song you’re listening to while brushing or give them the option to read an extra book if the brush time goes smooth. This will take time and practice, but it will soon become second nature. When there’s no option to say “no,” children will often be able to do just as we ask.

Forcing a child into the toothbrushing routine is perfectly okay. Doing this will regularly teach a child that the rules are made by mom or dad and that they are still all right after the brushing is over. Giving lots of praise during the brushing and giving a big hug and kiss afterward will encourage your child that even when they’re fuzzy, you love and care about them.

1. What is orthodontic treatment?

Orthodontic treatment is the proper alignment of misaligned teeth, using appropriate orthodontic devices. The process is known as teeth straightening and the orthodontic devices are dental braces.

For kids, dental braces contain wires, brackets and rubber bands. These usually do not pose a risk of any injury. With time, the wire is tightened to force tension on the teeth to align together. An orthodontic treatment may span anywhere between 3 months to a couple of years, depending upon the severity of the misalignment.

2. Why is teeth alignment/teeth straightening soimportant?

Misaligned teeth surely ruin the aesthetics of your kid’s smile. On top of that, there are oral health issues that are related to the condition as well. With crowding and overlapping, there are areas in the teeth that your child’s toothbrush or floss cannot reach. This lays the foundation for tooth decay in the future.

Teeth straightening or alignment helps in getting rid of these crowding and overlapping, to create a perfect set of teeth. This not only improves the aesthetics of your kid’s smile but also prevents oral diseases arising in the future. Apart from that it also helps in proper chewing and swallowing, and improves speech.

3. When to get dental braces?

There is no specific age to get dental braces. Your kid’s dentist may notice something irregular in the alignment of his/her teeth and may carry out an X-Ray and recommend you to see an orthodontist. On the other hand, if the kid is too young, dentists tend to wait until the gums grow and mature, to find out if the mature gums of the kid support a perfectly aligned set of teeth.

Malocclusion (more commonly known as a bad bite) is the main reason why kids need dental braces. This happens due to the improper shape or size of either or both of the jaws. When the jaw size is bigger or smaller than usual, teeth tend to be spaced or crowded respectively.

An overbite is when the upper front teeth overlap with the lower front teeth when the mouth is closed. On the other hand, an underbite is when the lower front teeth overlap with the upper front teeth when the mouth is closed. This too calls for dental braces.

However, not every misalignment requires dental braces for teeth straightening. For example, mild overcrowding does not pose a big threat if the child does brush and floss thoroughly and regularly./p>

As far as overbites are concerned, most people have a slight overbite, that does not require dental braces. However, if your orthodontist does recommend your kid to get dental braces, do read this article by Reader’s Digest, Canada to help you decide!

4. Are there alternatives to dental braces?

There is a rising trend of invisible teeth aligners among kids. These are plastic trays that are barely noticeable, and work exactly as dental braces, only that they are not as effective! These teeth aligners are good for mild misalignment, but orthodontists do not recommend it to cure severe malocclusion.

Invisible teeth aligners are also more expensive than dental braces and need to be replaced periodically.

5. What are the types of dental braces?

Although all of them look just the same, there are around 10 types of dental braces,

each differing in size and other features. Your orthodontist would likely consult with you before recommending you with one type for your kid, based on your kid’s dental condition. Porcelain and mini dental braces are a couple of the other types.

6. What are the diet restrictions during orthodontic treatment?

A considerable amount of diet restrictions is associated with orthodontic treatment. To generalize, orthodontists recommend kids not to have popcorns, hard and sticky foods while going through orthodontic treatment. Burgers, sandwiches, chocolates, and meat are few of the diet restrictions. As per an article published by Oral-B

“Cut down on sweets, chips and soda. Sugary and starchy foods generate plaque acid and that can cause tooth decay and promote gum disease. Sticky, chewy sweets like caramel, fudges and toffee can also cause wire damage and loosen brackets.”

You must ensure that you get your kid’s orthodontic treatment from a certified and reliable orthodontist treatment in town. If you’re in Illinois, asking, “Where could I find the best orthodontist near me?”, click here!

Taking a kid to the dentist is not a hassle-free experience for any parent. Have you ever heard of a kid who is not afraid to go to the dentist for the first or second time? The reason is that kids are not comfortable with dental objects touching their teeth. They do not take the idea of metal objects being used to treat them very lightly.

Your kid learns a lot from you. The child looks up to you! Use this opportunity to shape your kid’s perceptions and beliefs in a positive manner. Take him/her with you when you need to visit the dentist for yourself.

This is called positive role play. During your spare time, spend some time with your kid to prep him/her up for the visit to the dentist. You play the dentist’s role, and let your child play himself/herself!

Act in the friendliest manner possible, to leave an impression that dentists are friendly by nature. This would help immensely in overcoming the child’s fear of dentists!

Begin at an early stage

It is highly recommended that you start preparing your child for his/her dental visit at an early age. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) suggests that you should let your kids get used to dental objects like floss touching their teeth, as early as the age of 2! “Flossing should begin when 2 teeth touch, typically between 2 and 2½ years of age. Some children may only need a few back teeth flossed and others may need flossing between all their tight teeth, depending on dental spacing.”

Keep rewards

Let your kid know that there is a prize for their bravery. Treat them with their favorite meal or toy, post the visit. Knowing that there is something to gain out of the process is much likely to help the kid stay motivated for the visit.

Use a fear strategy!

Sometimes, the fear of consequences of not doing something could work wonders on kids! Tell them about how much cavities hurt, how bacteria would feast inside their mouth, and how they could go toothless if they don’t visit the dentist!

These tactics work on most children. Besides, your persuasion skills play a major part in overcoming the kid’s fear. Since you understand your kid the best, you would know which tone or conversational style would best suit your purpose. Good luck!

It’s common for a child to have a sweet tooth. Since sugary things taste great, children become restless to get hold of them. And as parents, you cannot expect them to have a sense of long term reward over short term pleasures. They are unable to perceive how sugar affects their teeth and thus themselves pave their way to cavities and dental problems.

Survey reveals, forty-two percent of American children between the ages of two and eleven have similar forms tooth decay.

Table Of Contents:

How sugar causes the damage?

The sugar itself is not the cause of concern. The damage causing factor for your teeth is acid. Various bacteria feed upon the sugar in your mouth as a source of their food and energy. In the process, these bacteria breaks down the sugar and acid is the resultant. The acid eats away at the enamel and also removes the minerals from your teeth. This outcomes are:

Tooth decay and rot.

Cavities.

De-mineralised teeth.

Toothaches and even sensitive teeth.

Can government intervention help?

Let us take for an instance the case from another part of this earth.

The sugar levy in England, has been hugely successful in dealing with the overflow of fizzy and sugary drinks that put their pangs on the health of thousands of youngsters. Government intervention was therefore a dire necessity to reduce the amount of sugar going into soft drinks most popular among the younger generation. Consumers were automatically discouraged hugely from purchasing unhealthy drinks frequently!

Ways to prevent the sugar damage:

Even if you are cutting down on the intake of sugary foods, you probably will not be able to shield your offspring completely from sugary products. Rather, it would be both wise and effective to take steps to resist the bacterial attack as well as formation of cavities.

Fluoride:

Fluoride is a natural mineral that helps prevent tooth decay in its own unique way. Due to its unique properties, it is often added to community water systems and most toothpastes too. Thus if your child is drinking plenty of fluoridated water and brushing regularly with a fluoride toothpaste, he or she is in safe hands.

How Fluoride works?

Fluoride is a chemical ion of fluorine. Fluorine is one among the top 20 common element on earth’s crust. An ion is a positively or negatively charged atom. Since fluorine is a negatively charged ion, as soon as it meets with a positively charged one like sodium, cavity fighters are created. Thus Fluoride helps in making teeth stronger and healthier.

Drink plenty of water:

If it is fluoridated water it helps your kid’s teeth more! Water not only washes away the bacteria but also keeps your mouth moist. This is important as your saliva contains calcium and phosphate that bathes your teeth to keep them healthy!

Drink sugary drinks like fruit juices and soda with a straw:

This indeed is a good way to reduce contact of the sugary liquids with your teeth. It allows soda to go directly into the back of your mouth. Although the environmental impact of disposing straws is a cause of concern, yet, there are plenty of eco-straws available out there.

Brush and floss:

This is the most obvious solution. Clean your teeth at least twice a day and especially after you have consumed something sugary or highly acidic. Wait forty-five minutes to an hour before brushing. This is because brushing your teeth after there has been an acidic attack can wear them away even more! Thus, one needs to wait for the acid to wear off before brushing.

It is true that you cannot keep your children away from candies, plums and berries all the time. For this reason, you need to make the preventive measures work in your case. Keep yourself aware of the food habits of your child and keep a track of what the kid is consuming throughout the day. If the sugar intake has been high for any particular reason, try taking stricter teeth care measures for the day is really important.

Halloween is the year’s second most popular holiday for a reason. It’s a time when both children and adults alike get to dress up in their favorite costumes while indulging in sugary treats.

However, this is also the time when parents should be extra vigilant when it comes to their children’s oral health. Excessive sugar consumption can lead to gingivitis, tartar, and tooth decay. At Arcade Dental in Pharr, our pediatric dentists have a few tips on how to keep your kid’s oral health in check during this sugary month.

Our Kids Dentists Recommend Practicing Moderation

Your child is likely to receive sugary treats throughout the month of October, not just on the day of Halloween. Just because your child receives these treats does not mean they need to eat them right away or in one sitting. In fact, they should not be eating candy on a daily basis.

Rationing your children’s candy allows you to control their sugar intake. It also informs you when they should brush, as we recommend brushing immediately after consuming sugary treats or as soon as possible. Additionally, by rationing their candy, you have treats they can look forward to for many months to come. After all, treats are called treats for a reason.

Our Kids Dentists Recommend Choosing Better Options

The kind of treats your child eats makes a difference. Obviously, healthy options such as microwave popcorn or cheese sticks are ideal. But let’s face it, how many kids want to eat popcorn or cheese sticks on Halloween?

Non-sticky treats such as dark chocolates are more tooth friendly because they quickly leave the mouth. Dark chocolate contains antioxidants that can stop bacteria from sticking to teeth, thus helping fight gum infections and tooth decay.

On the other hand, sticky treats such as gummies, caramel, or taffy are more likely to get stuck in the grooves and crevices of the teeth, leading to harmful bacteria in your child’s mouth. It is best to avoid these options.

Come to Our Pharr Dental Office for a Checkup

In addition to the precautions you take for your child’s oral health this Halloween, it is also important to bring them in to see our pediatric dentists for a check up afterwards. Our friendly, professional staff is here to make sure your child maintains great oral health throughout the holiday season. If you live in Pharr, Mission, McAllen, Hidalgo, San Juan, or Edinburg, contact our dental office today to set up an appointment.

The average two-year-old has never visited a pediatric dentist. In fact, only 25% of children have seen a kids dentist by the age of five. Therefore, it’s no wonder the most common chronic childhood disease in the nation is tooth decay.

These shocking statistics are why we here at Arcade Dental in Pharr strongly recommend parents stay on top of their child’s oral health. Regular checkups and professional cleanings are imperative for your child, especially since it is a proven fact that oral health contributes to the better overall health of your child.

Why Children Need to See Our Pediatric Dentists ASAP

From the time your child is a baby, they are often exposed to food and liquids that can have a negative effect on their oral health. Baby formula, certain foods, milk, and juice are all usually full of sugars that can promote tooth decay.

In addition, drinking from baby bottles and sippy cups can increase the chances for decay, as drinking from these objects causes constant sugar exposure to the child’s teeth, especially the front teeth.

When left untreated, tooth decay can lead to severe pain and even infection. In fact, the decay can become so severe that the only treatment option is tooth extraction.

At our Pharr dental clinic, our kids dentists recommend that you reduce your kid’s exposure to sugary liquids as much as possible, while keeping up with their dental maintenance. An imperative part of this maintenance is bringing them into our dental office for regular checkups and cleanings.

When to Bring Your Child to See Our Pediatric Dentists

Our pediatric dental experts recommend that you bring your kid in for their first dental visit as soon as their first tooth begins to show, or no later than their first birthday.

When you bring your child into our dental office in Pharr, a kids dentist will thoroughly examine your child’s mouth and look for any problems with their dental development. The dentist will also advise on tooth decay protection and regular dental maintenance.

Arcade Dental is committed to your children’s overall health. Therefore, if you live in Pharr, McAllen, Hidalgo, San Juan, or Edinburg, contact our dental office today to set up an appointment.

Sure no one wants to talk about it, but dental extractions do take place. When dental extractions are conducted at our dentist office in Pharr, it is because they have to take place.

Oral extractions are conducted for various reasons, but they are always done in the best interest of the patient. Often, tooth extractions are thought to be only for adults, but sometimes this procedure is required for kids. At our Pharr dentist office, we understand how removing certain teeth helps a patient—child or adult—in the long term.

WHY GET A DENTAL EXTRACTION?

As we mentioned above, there are various reasons for receiving a tooth extraction. Here are just some of the reasons we have seen with some of our patients:

TOOTH DECAY – This is a primary reason for this dental surgery to take place. Sometimes patients do not conduct proper hygiene and it takes a massive toll on the teeth. Then there are cases where a cavity has gone undetected because it is in an obscure spot and when the decay is so extreme, it leaves only one option: removal. Now, this type of reason for dental extraction can be avoided by brushing twice per day, flossing daily, and receiving a dental cleaning once every six months.

GENETICS – This type of case is rare, but it does happen. Sometimes teeth grow in weird places and are of no use due simply to genetics. They can also cause pain and discomfort in the mouth. Patients with teeth growing in abnormal areas are highly encouraged to come to Arcade Dental in Pharr, TX.

WISDOM TEETH – This reason, however, is one of the most common. When it comes to wisdom teeth, it is typically not very wise to keep them. These are molars that grow in the very back of the mouth and are rather useless. They are hard to reach and maintain, which can lead to cavities. One of the primary reasons patients come to our kids dentists or adult dentists is because the wisdom teeth are causing pain and discomfort.

DO YOU NEED A DENTAL EXTRACTION?

Do you or your child suffer from tooth decay, poor genetics, or irritating wisdom teeth? If so, then contact our Pharr dentist office today and schedule your tooth extraction appointment. Removing bad, weak, or useless teeth that cause pain or discomfort is a quick way to restore your oral health and enable you to return to normal oral functions.

Dental caries are sometimes pretty sneaky and can appear almost out of nowhere, if you aren’t really vigilant about your oral hygiene. Brushing twice per day, flossing every day, and going to the dentist for dental cleanings every six months is extremely important to keeping dental cavities away. But like we said, sometimes a cavity might sneak in there. Then what do you do?

At Arcade Dental in Pharr, TX, our dentists work hard to ensure that if any cavities appear, they are taken care of immediately. The last thing you want is for the cavity to spread across the tooth causing real damage, which is why we provide dental fillings to all of our pediatric and adult patients.

If a cavity forms in the tooth, it must be removed. Our kids dentists and general dentists get rid of the cavity and then replace that decayed part of the tooth with a filling. A dental filling is made up of various materials, most commonly composite resin. This resin is tooth colored so that the tooth remains in its natural shade.

Dental fillings at our Pharr dentist office are extremely durable as well. The purpose of the filling is to ensure that the patient is able to return to their normal oral functions, like chewing food. Dental fillings typically last about a decade, sometimes even two.

WHEN TO RECEIVE DENTAL FILLINGS

When conducting oral upkeep at home, you can check your teeth yourself. It’s pretty easy to see how your molars are doing and if there is any dark discoloration. If there is, then that means it is time to schedule an appointment with our Pharr dentist at Arcade Dental.

Self-checks, however, aren’t 100% accurate. You won’t be able to see in the crevices of your mouth, and checking the inside part of the front teeth and incisors is almost impossible. This is why dental cleanings are so important. These allow our kids dentists and adult dentists to check for cavities, as well as other dental issues, like gum disease.

In the event that a cavity is ignored, it can spread quickly across the tooth and deeper toward the root. This turns a very simple dental procedure into something more invasive, like a root canal or the requirement for a dental crown.

GET YOUR DENTAL FILLINGS SOONER RATHER THAN LATER

Waiting to receive a dental filling is a bad idea because a cavity doesn’t heal, it can only progress. Our Pharr, TX dentist highly recommends you address your cavities in a timely manner. Contact our dental office today and schedule your appointment.

Getting kids to keep their teeth healthy is no easy task. This is why our kids dentists work hard to educate their pediatric patients every time they come to our Pharr dental office. Education is the best method to ensuring kids maintain great oral health.

PROTECTING YOUR KIDS TEETH AND ORAL HEALTH

There are several ways to make sure your child is keeping their teeth very healthy. Here are the proven and can’t-miss ways to promoting the best oral health for your kids:

BRUSHING – Your child should be brushing their teeth twice per day—once before going to bed and once after waking up. This ensures that the sugars and plaque buildup formed throughout the day from eating and drinking is removed before going to sleep. Not brushing that out and allowing those sugars and the plaque to remain, can quickly create cavities. Brushing in the morning helps eliminate bad breath, bacteria, and plaque that forms over night.

FLOSSING – Flossing is extremely important because brushing can’t reach everywhere in the mouth. There are places in between the teeth that the bristles of the toothbrush can’t reach. Utilizing floss ensures that food particles and plaque buildup is removed completely. If your child is only brushing their teeth, then there is a good chance they are not removing everything in their mouth. Flossing helps prevent cavities and periodontal disease (gum disease).

RINSING – After brushing and flossing, it is a good idea to have your kids rinse their mouth out. Using just water may be enough if your child is conducting the prior two with vigor. Otherwise, have your child utilize kid-friendly mouthwash. Check the age requirement on the bottle before purchase and use. Mouthwash is very helpful in removing bacteria that is leftover.

DENTAL CLEANING – Every child should visit the kids dentist every six months. These dental visits include dental cleanings. During this visit, our Pharr dentist is able to conduct thorough exams of the mouth to make sure there are no current problems or potential problems. Cavities are able to be addressed quickly and effectively when they are caught during dental cleanings. Catching issues within the mouth before they form or become worse is a great way to keep your child’s mouth healthy and save you financially.

SCHEDULE YOUR CHILD’S DENTAL APPOINTMENT TODAY

Contact Arcade Dental in Pharr today to schedule your child’s dental appointment. Dental cleanings are quick and easy. They will also ensure your child is on the right track dentally. Our kids dentists look forward to helping you and your family remain cavity-free.

At our Pharr dentist office, our kids dentists understand the importance of keeping your children’s teeth strong and healthy. Kids who start off on the right foot with their teeth, typically end up maintaining proper oral health throughout their lifetime.

Our dentists ensure that every patient—young and old—is educated on how to properly maintain their teeth. Healthy teeth help promote overall health in the body. Poor oral health has been found to be connected to several life-threatening and debilitating diseases, including heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes. Our goal is to make sure all of our patients avoid these issues by keeping their teeth clean.

MAINTAINING PROPER ORAL HEALTH

As far as oral health goes, it’s best to start early. Here are just some of the ways we encourage our patients to stay healthy:

BRUSHING – This may come across like a no-brainer, but there are plenty of people who don’t brush properly or don’t brush enough. Brushing teeth should be done twice per day—once in the morning and once before going to bed. Brushing should take no less than two minutes. This ensures that as much plaque as possible is removed.

FLOSSING – Flossing is a pretty popular mode of dental upkeep, but it’s surprising how many people simply do not floss their teeth. Flossing helps removes food particles and plaque from between and around teeth. Floss reaches where the toothbrush bristles can’t. Flossing also helps stave off periodontal disease (gum disease) by strengthening the gums. We recommend flossing once per day.

RINSING – There are various types of antiseptic mouthwashes out there. Regardless of which you choose, try to be consistent with it. After brushing and flossing, conduct a thorough rinse to remove any remaining plaque or bacteria that is left behind.

DENTAL CLEANINGS – The three aforementioned steps are incredibly important, but so is this fourth step. At Arcade Dental, our kids dentists and general dentists recommend conducting dental cleanings every six months. This allows our dentists to get rid of hard to remove plaque buildup that can cause cavities and gum disease. We are also able to identify any immediate or possible issues, such as cavities, in the mouth and can correct them during the appointment.

SCHEDULE YOUR KIDS DENTAL CLEANING TODAY

How long has it been since you or your child has had a dental cleaning? If it’s been more than six months, then it is time to schedule a cleaning. Contact our Pharr dental office today and schedule your appointment.

If you’ve recently had a dental cleaning, then be certain to continue brushing, flossing and rinsing regularly.